Operation Vantage was set up on the 10th August 2015 by the Garda National Immigration Bureau to investigate illegal immigration and identify marriages of convenience as defined under the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014.
Recent trends indicate a large number of new notifications of intention to marry from males from the Indian sub-continent (i.e. Pakistan, India, Bangladesh) to females from EU countries, particularly Portugal and Eastern European countries.
This operation has identified a number of criminal networks based in Ireland and the UK who are engaged in the facilitation of these marriages through the provision of false information and documentation to Marriage Registrars, thus exploiting the asylum and immigration system. These criminal elements are gleaning huge profits by organising residency status for non-EU nationals through these marriages of convenience.
A large number of searches were conducted across the country on today’s date, 25th November 2015, by over 200 Garda members including those attached to Operation Vantage supported by resources from National units including the Criminal Assets Bureau and Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, and local Garda units. Officials from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, the Dept. of Social and Family Affairs, the Revenue Commissioners, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) are also assisting in the searches today to identify and prosecute any breaches of Immigration, Social Welfare, Revenue, Employment Rights or Company legislation. 42 searches are being conducted of both residential and business premises in Counties Dublin (21), Kildare (3), Meath (1), Longford (2), Louth (4), Cork (1), Limerick (2), and Mayo (8) to gather evidence of fraud offences related to the organised facilitation of marriages of convenience and any offences under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
As of noon today a total of 11 people have been arrested (2 females and 1 male) so far for a variety of offences under the Immigration Act and Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act. They are being held at Henry Street, Ballyhaunis and Finglas Garda station. In addition a large amount of computers, memory devices, phones and documents including false identity documents, driving licences and marriage certificates have been seized. A stun gun and quantities of cash (approx. €30,000) have also been seized during the course of the searches.
New legislation - the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 - enacted on the 18th August 2015 provides new powers to a Registrar of Marriages to consider whether a marriage is one of convenience, i.e. a marriage where at least one of the parties to the marriage is at the time of entry into the marriage is a foreign national, and enters into the marriage solely for the purpose of securing an immigration advantage for at least one of the parties to the marriage. As a result of this legislation 55 formal objections to pending marriages have been made through Operation Vantage and 22 people have been arrested and charged for offences under Section 69(3) of the Civil Registration Act 2004 – provision of false information to the Registrar – and Section 29 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 – custody or control of a false instrument.
A further 30 marriages between EU/non-EU nationals have not proceeded as both parties failed to show following Garda enquires. Investigations to date suggest that a significant number of non-EU nationals have been identified who have already obtained Irish/EU residency rights based on marriages of convenience or other false information provided in support of their residency applications. A number of such cases have been reported to the Department of Justice through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) for review of their residency status and revocation.
Operation Vantage has also uncovered a number of people subject to deportation orders attempting to avail of a marriage of convenience. In addition 2 convicted non-EU national sex offenders were also attempting to register to marry. Both of these have since been arrested.
Significant progress has been made in investigating the organised facilitation of marriages of convenience and a number of links across Europe have been established. These facilitators are believed to be charging non-EU nationals up to €20,000 for arranging a marriage to an EU partner in Ireland. For this fee they are managing all aspects of the marriage from the recruitment and transport of an EU national spouse, the production of false documents, assistance in the procurement of PPS numbers, the notification and registration of the marriage and the subsequent application for EU residency.
Detective Chief Superintendant Dowling of the Garda National Immigration Bureau said today that "An Garda Síochána will continue to proactively work with all the relevant agencies to detect and investigate any criminality in relation to the immigration system, particularly in regards to marriages of convenience being used for the purposes of securing an immigration advantage. This is the first phase of what will likely be a long term operation”.
An Garda Síochána have also been closely liaising with other police services throughout Europe through Europol and Eurojust to tackle the cross border nature of this criminality. There is some concern that vulnerable EU nationals may be brought to Ireland under false pretences for the purposes of marriages of convenience and the Garda Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit (HTICU) are working closely with Operation Vantage in this regard.
This operation today is specifically targeting those who are abusing the immigration system through marriages of convenience and is not reflective of any of the genuine asylum applications being received from current conflict areas around the world.
Gardaí are working with State Agencies and NGO’s in trying to assist vulnerable females affected or exploited in these types of incidents.
Note to editors; A short media briefing and an opportunity for one on one interviews will be provided at Nation Support Services, Harcourt Square at 3pm today.
Picture on front page was taken during parading at Store Street Garda Station on the 25/11/15
